Chapter 1986: Close Enough
Out of the eight remaining participants, three were eliminated. One more battle and the lots would be reset since everyone had at least fought once.
Naturally, Davis fought with Wayn Skycloud. However, he made Wayn Skycloud kneel by breaking his kneecaps.
Everyone knew that it was intentional, but no one said anything, nor was Davis too savage. That fracture could heal as long as Wayn Skycloud took a healing pill of Peak-Level Emperor Grade, which he would be in possession of considering that he was one of the important heirs to the Vast Sky Emperor.
Since they had decided to give in to his demands, Davis let them go for now. Or else, there would be another corpse in the New Era Battle Arena.
As for why Wayn Skycloud challenged him, he was unlucky enough to be only capable of challenging him because the others had already finished their battles. Nonetheless, Wayn Skycloud was about to quickly give up when the start of the battle was announced but would Davis let him?
Wayn Skycloud even felt that he escaped calamity by just having his legs broken.
Who knows what else he would've been subjected to if the Emperor of Death decided to take out his anger on him or even use him to smoke out his father?
Everyone could see that the Emperor of Death disdained to go to such lengths.
Wayn Skycloud left without making a sound. Although this experience was humiliating for him, he didn't dare show any emotions on his face.
Now, only four participants were left: Davis, Natalya, Ellia, and Adlet Rayburn.
Without delaying, Honorable Elder Julian Kruse picked the lot and heaved a sigh of relief.
This time, the lot went to Adlet Rayburn, making Honorable Elder Julian Kruse think that if this lot also went to Natalya, her luck would almost be heaven-defying, not to mention voices of cheating would also become prevalent since the common populace do not understand the concept of karmic luck.
He displayed the lot, and Adlet Rayburn saw that the challenger was himself!
He could only shake his head to the so-called sudden luck that was bestowed on him.
'So it's the last battle...'
On the other hand, Davis and Ellia thought at the same time as they turned to look at each other. There was also a faint hint of laughter in their eyes, blaming each other for being unable to meet with their bad luck.
To think that they had not obtained a single lot all this time… they didn't know what to say about it.
Adlet Rayburn pursed his lips as he glanced around, his eyes appearing deeply hesitative.
If he challenged the Emperor of Death, he knew he would lose. The chances of him winning would be greater if he battled the Yin Lotus Fairy or Fairy Myria, but he mused that battling the Yin Lotus Fairy would be easier because Fairy Myria was shrouded in mysteriousness that even the Emperor of Death seemed careful of her, not to mention that she survived the attacks of Rayn Shard who used the Soaring Emperor Sword, allowing his prowess to reach the likes of the Four Great Righteous Sect Leaders.
Adlet Rayburn felt that his best bet to win was to battle the Yin Lotus Fairy, but if he did, injuries would be commonplace. He didn't want to offend the Emperor of Death as he had seen how protective he could be of his women like him, which garnered his respect, but he also couldn't give up just like that.
He was caught between a rock and a hard place, but in the end, he made his decision.
"Yin Lotus Fairy, I challenge you to a fair battle."
"Ahaha~"
Natalya couldn't help but laugh in response.
"Did I do something wrong?" Adlet Rayburn's brows couldn't help but twitch.
Was the Yin Lotus Fairy looking down on him?
"No, if I knew that I was going to be challenged by you, I would've challenged you in the very first battle of this third round. Then I wouldn't have had to hesitate so much in choosing that disappointing woman."
"Haha, please spare me. I don't want the humiliation of losing so early, and neither do you."
Adlet Rayburn chuckled. Although there was humility in his speech, his last few words mentioned that he was absolutely confident in winning.
"Well, I don't care for the martial aspect of the rankings. I'm only here for accompanying my husband anyway, wanting to be close to him as much as possible in the rankings~"
Natalya's cheerful voice echoed as she flew towards the battle stage.
Adlet Rayburn became speechless before he turned to look at Davis and cupped his hands.
Davis gave a slight nod. He was approving of Adlet Rayburn's attitude towards him, not servile but not haughty either. However, Natalya's words put a smile on his face.
Although she was starting to show some changes because she had become stronger, she was still his Natalya.
It was said that when a person enjoyed enough wealth, power, and status, or even one of them to an overwhelming degree, it would reveal their true self. He was heartened to see that she still remained the same.
Natalya and Adlet Rayburn quickly arrived at their positions. The both of them clearly looked confident, their eyes displaying not even a hint of worry.
Honorable Elder Julian Kruse saw that they were willing to battle, but he couldn't help but move away from the edge of the barrier first. These two were more powerful than him that he felt like he had to gain some distance first. Furthermore, the battle stage was already wrecked in a few places, some even having a deep gorge.
Repairs were done, but for the battle stage to have repeatedly crumbled under their prowess, they were no longer bothered to make repairs, especially after Rayn Shard and Fairy Myria's battle.
Nonetheless, thinking that this battle wouldn't reach their level, he raised his hand and flicked his sleeve.
"Let the battle begin!"
Adlet Rayburn and Natalya didn't move. They stared at each other, waiting for the other to make a move while the people were also excited, wanting to know who would win this exchange, a speedy and destructive light skylark or an invasive and enduring yin lotus.
In the eyes of the people, their prowess was also evenly matched from what they had seen, so even before the two of them made a move, their bodies already started shaking in anticipation.
"Alright, since Yin Lotus Fairy's power is not suited for attacking, I will attack."
Adlet Rayburn opened his mouth and took a step forward. His figure transformed into a silver streak of light that manifested in front of Natalya at this moment, a silver light sword appearing in his hand as he slashed down on her.
Simultaneously, an icy-blue lotus blossomed, its structure made of ice and yin, blocking the attack.
*Bang!~*
The silver sword fell on the icy-blue lotus, but it refused to break under the sharpness of the light blade. Adlet Rayburn narrowed his brows, and his essence energy overflowed into his silver sword, becoming sharper while carrying a destructive will of the wind.
The sharpness twisted space as cracks started appearing around them, but Natalya also seemingly strengthened her icy-blue lotus, continuing to provide it with energy like he did. Indeed, Natalya used ice essence energy in her left hand and yin essence energy from her right hand. However, she didn't merge them but stuck them together like gluing them together.
People occasionally identify this as Yin Fusion, but they are mistaken. Unless the two energies completely undergo a qualitative change when merging, it wouldn't become a fusion.
On the other hand, Adlet Rayburn refused to use another maneuver when it became whose fist was bigger. Either he breaks her lotus, or his sword shatters. There was no way around it because if he used another attack in this maneuver, it would become that he lost in terms of sheer prowess even if he managed to injure her. However, he knew that the Yin Lotus Fairy had yet to use her Yin Fusion Laws, which made him feel that his chances to win became bleak.
'As expected, my Immeasurable Sea is not up to par with her...'
Adlet Rayburn lamented.
While battling with Schleya, he had to hold back, but while battling with Natalya, he couldn't break through her defenses even while not holding back.
His Immeasurable Sea was at hundred and thirty kilometers which were lesser than Natalya's hundred and forty-nine kilometers Immeasurable Sea. He didn't know how big her Law Sea was but came to understand that it was better than his in this single exchange.
"Watch out!"
Gritting his teeth, he spat these words from his mouth.
Abruptly, the silver light sword vaguely radiated a viridian aura.
Natalya's eyes slightly widened, her pupils reflecting the scene of her icy-blue lotus coming under further pressure from the sword trying to slice it. However, her astonishment stemmed from the fact that she sensed wind essence energy emerging from him!